BigBoy
Enlightened
Surefire KX1 head
Cree Q5 / WC emitter
RV7 1.2 V Nimh driver
When the RV7 driver became available this fall I modded a KX1 head with the above components and really liked the result. For some reason I have not yet adopted lithium based batterys - and generally use AA Nimh batterys. The RV7 driver achieves remarkable output on a single Nimh cell. At 700+ milliamps the Q5 should be putting out about 190 'bulb' lumens which yields approximately 130 lumens out. The KX1 head is readily modable with a flat surface to mount most any LED and ample room on the driver side for any of the standard .55 drivers. Dissassembly requires a heat gun. The prototype was setup as designed with 3 levels - but after a few months I opened up back up and set it up as a single stage light (high only) and really liked the result. Because of this all the lights will be single stage.
The following chart shows output (in milliamps) with several popular batteries:
This is a beamshot outdoors at about 30 feet with a fresh Eneloop:
And some closeups of the modded KX1 light engine:
I took the first prototype on several camping trips and the next thing you know there are five non CPF 'civilian' friends who want a light. I purchased parts to make 10 of these - and expect to offer the remainder in the Custom / Modified B/S/T forum in a "few weeks". 6 of the heads are complete and I have 4 to go.
A group shot - the yellow cylinders are spacers when combined with a single AA cell they will equal the length of 2 CR123A's. When a E2E body is lined with card stock the AA and spacer will be snug.
The battery is an Elite 1700 from cheapbatterypacks.com. These batteries are amazing with the RV7.
These units warm up a bit - but it is no where close the the heat a KL4 or e2e head will generate. All of the units have a wonderful smooth white beam, however they were very difficult to center exactly and if you rotate the flashlight while shining it against a while wall - you may notice some unevenness. The beam pattern tends toward being a thrower. The F04 beamshaper softens up the beam for reading / indoor use.
Bob
Cree Q5 / WC emitter
RV7 1.2 V Nimh driver
When the RV7 driver became available this fall I modded a KX1 head with the above components and really liked the result. For some reason I have not yet adopted lithium based batterys - and generally use AA Nimh batterys. The RV7 driver achieves remarkable output on a single Nimh cell. At 700+ milliamps the Q5 should be putting out about 190 'bulb' lumens which yields approximately 130 lumens out. The KX1 head is readily modable with a flat surface to mount most any LED and ample room on the driver side for any of the standard .55 drivers. Dissassembly requires a heat gun. The prototype was setup as designed with 3 levels - but after a few months I opened up back up and set it up as a single stage light (high only) and really liked the result. Because of this all the lights will be single stage.
The following chart shows output (in milliamps) with several popular batteries:
This is a beamshot outdoors at about 30 feet with a fresh Eneloop:
And some closeups of the modded KX1 light engine:
I took the first prototype on several camping trips and the next thing you know there are five non CPF 'civilian' friends who want a light. I purchased parts to make 10 of these - and expect to offer the remainder in the Custom / Modified B/S/T forum in a "few weeks". 6 of the heads are complete and I have 4 to go.
A group shot - the yellow cylinders are spacers when combined with a single AA cell they will equal the length of 2 CR123A's. When a E2E body is lined with card stock the AA and spacer will be snug.
The battery is an Elite 1700 from cheapbatterypacks.com. These batteries are amazing with the RV7.
These units warm up a bit - but it is no where close the the heat a KL4 or e2e head will generate. All of the units have a wonderful smooth white beam, however they were very difficult to center exactly and if you rotate the flashlight while shining it against a while wall - you may notice some unevenness. The beam pattern tends toward being a thrower. The F04 beamshaper softens up the beam for reading / indoor use.
Bob
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